Bayern Munich duo return to training ahead of trip to Mainz

The games are coming thick and fast for Bayern Munich, so Julian Nagelsmann needs the entire squad to navigate through a difficult schedule. The German coach has received a big boost ahead of the DFB Pokal clash against Mainz on Wednesday.

Leon Goretzka started individual training on Sunday. The German midfielder missed the game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday due to muscular problems. Goretzka is expected to be fit for the game against Mainz. It remains to be seen if Goretzka will go straight into the starting XI.

Apart from Goretzka, Bouna Sarr has also started training with the squad. The Senegalese full-back is training with the first team for the first time in months since he has been recovering from a knee injury. Sarr had started training on the pitch at the start of January.

Sarr may find it difficult to get playing time during Ruckrunde due to the presence of numerous right-back options in the squad. Bayern is close to completing a deal for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, while Benjamin Pavard and Josip Stanisic are also ahead of Sarr in the pecking order.

Bayern was open to listening to offers for Sarr in the winter transfer window. It does look like the transfer has been delayed until summer since Sarr has just returned to training. The Senegalese defender will hope to get at least some sort of playing time during Ruckrunde to get his rhythm back on the pitch.

Meanwhile, Sadio Mane has also started training on the pitch. The 30-year-old forward has been on the sidelines since the start of November. He is facing a race against time to be fit for the big Champions League game against PSG in Paris on February 14.

Noussair Mazraoui is also expected to take longer to recover from illness. The Moroccon full-back is recovering from an infection that he suffered due to COVID after the World Cup 2022. Mazraoui may end up missing both the Champions League games against PSG. Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer are the long-term absentees for Die Roten.

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Julian Nagelsmann will look to get the first win of the year when they travel to Mainz on Wednesday. The defending Bundesliga champions have been involved in three draws over the last eight days, which has seen their lead reduced to one point at the top of the points table. The German coach desperately needs to win against Mainz to stop the recent slump in performances.